The Promises of God – Part unknown

Promise 1

John 8:32: “And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.”

What is this Truth that we shall know, and from what will it set us free? The Truth is the knowledge of God’s plans and purposes, and will make us free because it will cause us to turn to Christ, and become new creatures in Him; old things shall pass away, and all things become new (2nd Cor. 5:17). We then become heirs to all the precious promises of God, and we know how many and how wonderful they are. In darkness we saw a great light (Matthew 4:16), and we followed the light, so now we shall dwell no more in darkness, for “His Word is a lamp unto our feet, and a light unto our path” (Psalms 119:105). It may sometimes seem very dark indeed, but even in the deepest night there will always be at least a glimmer of light, for the “light of the world” is with us (John 8:12).

0 Truth of God, pray set me free,
I offer now my prayer to Thee,
Thy Word, a lamp unto my feet
Will save from darkness and defeat.
And may I walk with Thee in grace
Until some day I see Thy face.

Promise 2

Romans 8:31: “What shall we then say to these things ? If God be for us, who can be against us ?”

We remember the stories of the Old Testament where God was for the Isra­elites and led them to victory as long as they obeyed and served Him. He was against them when they disobeyed Him, and their enemies overcame them.

Sometimes we voluntarily cut ourselves off from this promise by sin : at other times we lose connection with God because of lack of faith and unbelief. The main thing is to be sure that He is for us. He is only for those who love Him, consult Him, and obey implicitly when He answers. If we always did this, a great many of our troubles would never happen.

Let us make certain that God is on our side, then fearlessly face our foes as did David when he defeated the giant Goliath whom the strongest of the Israelite’s had not dared defy. He discarded the armor which the king had given him, and went forth to meet the enemy with nothing but five stones and a sling. He did not trust in his own strength or the king’s armor, he trusted in the Lord, his God. So God was for David, and if He is for us, who or what can be against us ?

If Almighty God is for us,
Who then can cause alarm,
Though iniquity surrounds us,
It cannot do us harm.
The somber clouds enfolding us,
So mighty an array,
Are defeated by God’s army
Prevailing day by day.
What then can be against us,
When He is our ally,
Why quail before strongholds of sin ?
Omnipotence is nigh.

Promise 1

Psalms 46:1-3: “God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.” “Therefore will not we fear, though the earth be removed, and though the mountains be carried into the midst of the sea”; “Though the waters thereof roar and be troubled, though the mountains shake with the swelling thereof.”

The earth in some places has actually been removed by earthquakes, floods and hurricanes. In rare instances islands and mountains have been shaken and submerged, by roaring water.

Today we quail before the conditions that exist in the world: crime, immorality, uncertain financial conditions, dishonesty, addiction to drugs, and above all, the fear that some day our earth may be desolated by nuclear war and the majority of its people destroyed.

All of us are inclined to be frightened by these things, but God tells us He is the strength and refuge of those who believe in Him, a very present help in time of trouble. So when the earth begins to rock, the floods roar, and things about us are being uprooted and carried away by hurricanes or tornadoes; or, worse still, by devastating war, let us not become panic stricken and seek wildly for an earthly refuge of some kind, but stand still, become quiet and unafraid, and pray for the help that God promised to give. It will be forthcoming if our faith stands firm.

The waves may roar, the mountains shake,
With darkness everywhere,
But our dear Lord is in command,
Why fear when He is there?

Promise 2

Romans 12:19: “Dearly beloved, avenge not yourselves, but rather give place unto wrath: for it is written, Vengeance is mine; I will repay, saith the Lord.”

Here is a promise that we will do well to always remember. God reminds us that vengeance is His, with the guarantee that in due time He will repay. Sometimes as years pass by, we may feel that God has forgotten us, and that His promise to avenge our misfortunes will never be fulfilled. But if we take things into our own hands and repay evil with evil, we are no better than the one who has wronged us.

It may be that the worker of iniquity will never be punished in this life, although he usually is. But, since God is love and God is just, if He seems to tarry in His intercession for His children, we have His word that there will come a time when justice will be meted out, and all our wrongs avenged.

Can we not trust in this respect, as in others, and patiently wait for Him? Heed where the wicked flourished,

His fortunes that were vast
Are in that place no longer,
His glory is all past.
While you, my child, beloved,
So often trodden down,
Shall live with Me forever,
And wear the victor’s crown.